Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Luke » Chapter 14 » Verse 1-35

Luke 14:1-35 King James Version (KJV)

1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them.

8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.


Luke 14:1-35 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 as G1722 he G846 went G2064 into G1519 the house G3624 of one G5100 of the chief G758 Pharisees G5330 to eat G5315 bread G740 on the sabbath G4521 day, that G2532 they G846 watched G2258 G3906 him. G846

2 And, G2532 behold, G2400 there was G2258 a certain G5100 man G444 before G1715 him G846 which had the dropsy. G5203

3 And G2532 Jesus G2424 answering G611 spake G2036 unto G4314 the lawyers G3544 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 saying, G3004 Is it G1487 lawful G1832 to heal G2323 on the sabbath day? G4521

4 And G1161 they held their peace. G2270 And G2532 he took G1949 him, and healed G2390 him, G846 and G2532 let him go; G630

5 And G2532 answered G611 them, G4314 G846 saying, G2036 Which G5101 of you G5216 shall have an ass G3688 or G2228 an ox G1016 fallen G1706 into G1519 a pit, G5421 and G2532 will G385 not G3756 straightway G2112 pull G385 him G846 out G385 on G1722 the sabbath G4521 day? G2250

6 And G2532 they could G2480 not G3756 answer G470 him G846 again G470 to G4314 these things. G5023

7 And G1161 he put forth G3004 a parable G3850 to G4314 those which were bidden, G2564 when he marked G1907 how G4459 they chose out G1586 the chief rooms; G4411 saying G3004 unto G4314 them, G846

8 When G3752 thou art bidden G2564 of G5259 any G5100 man to G1519 a wedding, G1062 sit G2625 not G3361 down G2625 in G1519 the highest room; G4411 lest G3379 a more honourable man G1784 than thou G4675 be G5600 bidden G2564 of G5259 him; G846

9 And G2532 he that bade G2564 thee G4571 and G2532 him G846 come G2064 and say G2046 to thee, G4671 Give G1325 this man G5129 place; G5117 and G2532 G5119 thou begin G756 with G3326 shame G152 to take G2722 the lowest G2078 room. G5117

10 But G235 when G3752 thou art bidden, G2564 go G4198 and sit down G377 in G1519 the lowest G2078 room; G5117 that G2443 when G3752 he that bade G2564 thee G4571 cometh, G2064 he may say G2036 unto thee, G4671 Friend, G5384 go up G4320 higher: G511 then G5119 shalt thou G4671 have G2071 worship G1391 in the presence G1799 of them that sit at meat G4873 with thee. G4671

11 For G3754 whosoever G3956 exalteth G5312 himself G1438 shall be abased; G5013 and G2532 he that humbleth G5013 himself G1438 shall be exalted. G5312

12 Then G1161 said he G3004 also G2532 to him that bade G2564 him, G846 When G3752 thou makest G4160 a dinner G712 or G2228 a supper, G1173 call G5455 not G3361 thy G4675 friends, G5384 nor G3366 thy G4675 brethren, G80 neither G3366 thy G4675 kinsmen, G4773 nor G3366 thy rich G4145 neighbours; G1069 lest G3379 they G846 also G2532 bid G479 thee G4571 again, G479 and G2532 a recompence G468 be made G1096 thee. G4671

13 But G235 when G3752 thou makest G4160 a feast, G1403 call G2564 the poor, G4434 the maimed, G376 the lame, G5560 the blind: G5185

14 And G2532 thou shalt be G2071 blessed; G3107 for G3754 they cannot G3756 G2192 recompense G467 thee: G4671 for G1063 thou G4671 shalt be recompensed G467 at G1722 the resurrection G386 of the just. G1342

15 And G1161 when one G5100 of them that sat at meat with him G4873 heard G191 these things, G5023 he said G2036 unto him, G846 Blessed G3107 is he G3739 that shall eat G5315 bread G740 in G1722 the kingdom G932 of God. G2316

16 Then G1161 said he G2036 unto him, G846 A certain G5100 man G444 made G4160 a great G3173 supper, G1173 and G2532 bade G2564 many: G4183

17 And G2532 sent G649 his G846 servant G1401 at supper G1173 time G5610 to say G2036 to them that were bidden, G2564 Come; G2064 for G3754 all things G3956 are G2076 now G2235 ready. G2092

18 And G2532 they all G3956 with G575 one G3391 consent began G756 to make excuse. G3868 The first G4413 said G2036 unto him, G846 I have bought G59 a piece of ground, G68 and G2532 I must G2192 needs G318 go G1831 and G2532 see G1492 it: G846 I pray G2065 thee G4571 have G2192 me G3165 excused. G3868

19 And G2532 another G2087 said, G2036 I have bought G59 five G4002 yoke G2201 of oxen, G1016 and G2532 I go G4198 to prove G1381 them: G846 I pray G2065 thee G4571 have G2192 me G3165 excused. G3868

20 And G2532 another G2087 said, G2036 I have married G1060 a wife, G1135 and G2532 therefore G1223 G5124 I cannot G3756 G1410 come. G2064

21 So G2532 that G1565 servant G1401 came, G3854 and shewed G518 his G846 lord G2962 these things. G5023 Then G5119 the master of the house G3617 being angry G3710 said G2036 to his G846 servant, G1401 Go out G1831 quickly G5030 into G1519 the streets G4113 and G2532 lanes G4505 of the city, G4172 and G2532 bring in G1521 hither G5602 the poor, G4434 and G2532 the maimed, G376 and G2532 the halt, G5560 and G2532 the blind. G5185

22 And G2532 the servant G1401 said, G2036 Lord, G2962 it is done G1096 as G5613 thou hast commanded, G2004 and G2532 yet G2089 there is G2076 room. G5117

23 And G2532 the lord G2962 said G2036 unto G4314 the servant, G1401 Go out G1831 into G1519 the highways G3598 and G2532 hedges, G5418 and G2532 compel G315 them to come in, G1525 that G2443 my G3450 house G3624 may be filled. G1072

24 For G1063 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 none G3762 of those G1565 men G435 which G3588 were bidden G2564 shall taste G1089 of my G3450 supper. G1173

25 And G1161 there went G4848 great G4183 multitudes G3793 with him: G846 and G2532 he turned, G4762 and said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846

26 If any G1536 man come G2064 to G4314 me, G3165 and G2532 hate G3404 not G3756 his G1438 father, G3962 and G2532 mother, G3384 and G2532 wife, G1135 and G2532 children, G5043 and G2532 brethren, G80 and G2532 sisters, G79 yea, G2089 and G1161 his own G1438 life G5590 also, G2532 he cannot G3756 G1410 be G1511 my G3450 disciple. G3101

27 And G2532 whosoever G3748 doth G941 not G3756 bear G941 his G846 cross, G4716 and G2532 come G2064 after G3694 me, G3450 cannot G3756 G1410 be G1511 my G3450 disciple. G3101

28 For G1063 which G5101 of G1537 you, G5216 intending G2309 to build G3618 a tower, G4444 sitteth G2523 not G3780 down G2523 first, G4412 and counteth G5585 the cost, G1160 whether G1487 he have G2192 sufficient to G4314 finish G535 it?

29 Lest G3363 haply, G3379 after he G846 hath laid G5087 the foundation, G2310 and G2532 is G2480 not G3361 able G2480 to finish G1615 it, all G3956 that behold G2334 it begin G756 to mock G1702 him, G846

30 Saying, G3004 This G3754 G3778 man G444 began G756 to build, G3618 and G2532 was G2480 not G3756 able G2480 to finish. G1615

31 Or G2228 what G5101 king, G935 going G4198 to make G4820 war G4171 against G1519 another G2087 king, G935 sitteth G2523 not G3780 down G2523 first, G4412 and consulteth G1011 whether G1487 he be G2076 able G1415 with G1722 ten G1176 thousand G5505 to meet G528 him that cometh G2064 against G1909 him G846 with G3326 twenty G1501 thousand? G5505

32 Or else, G1490 while the other G846 is G5607 yet G2089 a great way off, G4206 he sendeth G649 an ambassage, G4242 and desireth G2065 conditions G4314 of peace. G1515

33 So G3779 likewise, G3767 whosoever G3956 he be of G1537 you G5216 that G3739 forsaketh G657 not G3756 all G3956 that he hath, G5224 G1438 he cannot G3756 G1410 be G1511 my G3450 disciple. G3101

34 Salt G217 is good: G2570 but G1161 if G1437 the salt G217 have lost his savour, G3471 wherewith G1722 G5101 shall it be seasoned? G741

35 It is G2076 neither G3777 fit G2111 for G1519 the land, G1093 nor yet G3777 for G1519 the dunghill; G2874 but men cast G906 it G846 out. G1854 He that hath G2192 ears G3775 to hear, G191 let him hear. G191


Luke 14:1-35 American Standard (ASV)

1 And it came to pass, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him.

2 And behold, there was before him a certain man that had the dropsy.

3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not?

4 But they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go.

5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a well, and will not straightway draw him up on a sabbath day?

6 And they could not answer again unto these things.

7 And he spake a parable unto those that were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief seats; saying unto them,

8 When thou art bidden of any man to a marriage feast, sit not down in the chief seat; lest haply a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him,

9 and he that bade thee and him shall come and say to thee, Give this man place; and then thou shalt begin with shame to take the lowest place.

10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have glory in the presence of all that sit at meat with thee.

11 For everyone that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

12 And he said to him also that had bidden him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.

13 But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

14 and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not `wherewith' to recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.

15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

16 But he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many:

17 and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for `all' things are now ready.

18 And they all with one `consent' began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused.

19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused.

20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

21 And the servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame.

22 And the servant said, Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room.

23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain `them' to come in, that my house may be filled.

24 For I say unto you, that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper.

25 Now there went with him great multitudes: and he turned, and said unto them,

26 If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have `wherewith' to complete it?

29 Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to mock him,

30 saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

31 Or what king, as he goeth to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and asketh conditions of peace.

33 So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

34 Salt therefore is good: but if even the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

35 It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill: `men' cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.


Luke 14:1-35 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And it came to pass, on his going into the house of a certain one of the chiefs of the Pharisees, on a sabbath, to eat bread, that they were watching him,

2 and lo, there was a certain dropsical man before him;

3 and Jesus answering spake to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, `Is it lawful on the sabbath-day to heal?'

4 and they were silent, and having taken hold of `him', he healed him, and let `him' go;

5 and answering them he said, `Of which of you shall an ass or ox fall into a pit, and he will not immediately draw it up on the sabbath-day?'

6 and they were not able to answer him again unto these things.

7 And he spake a simile unto those called, marking how they were choosing out the first couches, saying unto them,

8 `When thou mayest be called by any one to marriage-feasts, thou mayest not recline on the first couch, lest a more honourable than thou may have been called by him,

9 and he who did call thee and him having come shall say to thee, Give to this one place, and then thou mayest begin with shame to occupy the last place.

10 `But, when thou mayest be called, having gone on, recline in the last place, that when he who called thee may come, he may say to thee, Friend, come up higher; then thou shalt have glory before those reclining with thee;

11 because every one who is exalting himself shall be humbled, and he who is humbling himself shall be exalted.'

12 And he said also to him who did call him, `When thou mayest make a dinner or a supper, be not calling thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kindred, nor rich neighbours, lest they may also call thee again, and a recompense may come to thee;

13 but when thou mayest make a feast, be calling poor, maimed, lame, blind,

14 and happy thou shalt be, because they have not to recompense thee, for it shall be recompensed to thee in the rising again of the righteous.'

15 And one of those reclining with him, having heard these things, said to him, `Happy `is' he who shall eat bread in the reign of God;'

16 and he said to him, `A certain man made a great supper, and called many,

17 and he sent his servant at the hour of the supper to say to those having been called, Be coming, because now are all things ready.

18 `And they began with one consent all to excuse themselves: The first said to him, A field I bought, and I have need to go forth and see it; I beg of thee, have me excused.

19 `And another said, Five yoke of oxen I bought, and I go on to prove them; I beg of thee, have me excused:

20 and another said, A wife I married, and because of this I am not able to come.

21 `And that servant having come, told to his lord these things, then the master of the house, having been angry, said to his servant, Go forth quickly to the broad places and lanes of the city, and the poor, and maimed, and lame, and blind, bring in hither.

22 `And the servant said, Sir, it hath been done as thou didst command, and still there is room.

23 `And the lord said unto the servant, Go forth to the ways and hedges, and constrain to come in, that my house may be filled;

24 for I say to you, that none of those men who have been called shall taste of my supper.'

25 And there were going on with him great multitudes, and having turned, he said unto them,

26 `If any one doth come unto me, and doth not hate his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and yet even his own life, he is not able to be my disciple;

27 and whoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, is not able to be my disciple.

28 `For who of you, willing to build a tower, doth not first, having sat down, count the expense, whether he have the things for completing?

29 lest that he having laid a foundation, and not being able to finish, all who are beholding may begin to mock him,

30 saying -- This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

31 `Or what king going on to engage with another king in war, doth not, having sat down, first consult if he be able with ten thousand to meet him who with twenty thousand is coming against him?

32 and if not so -- he being yet a long way off -- having sent an embassy, he doth ask the things for peace.

33 `So, then, every one of you who doth not take leave of all that he himself hath, is not able to be my disciple.

34 `The salt `is' good, but if the salt doth become tasteless, with what shall it be seasoned?

35 neither for land nor for manure is it fit -- they cast it without. He who is having ears to hear -- let him hear.'


Luke 14:1-35 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the rulers, [who was] of the Pharisees, to eat bread on [the] sabbath, that *they* were watching him.

2 And behold, there was a certain dropsical [man] before him.

3 And Jesus answering spoke unto the doctors of the law and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?

4 But they were silent. And taking him he healed him and let him go.

5 And answering he said to them, Of which of you shall an ass or ox fall into a well, that he does not straightway pull him up on the sabbath day?

6 And they were not able to answer him to these things.

7 And he spoke a parable to those that were invited, remarking how they chose out the first places, saying to them,

8 When thou art invited by any one to a wedding, do not lay thyself down in the first place at table, lest perhaps a more honourable than thou be invited by him,

9 and he who invited thee and him come and say to thee, Give place to this [man], and then thou begin with shame to take the last place.

10 But when thou hast been invited, go and put thyself down in the last place, that when he who has invited thee comes, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have honour before all that are lying at table with thee;

11 for every one that exalts himself shall be abased, and he that abases himself shall be exalted.

12 And he said also to him that had invited him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsfolk, nor rich neighbours, lest it may be they also should invite thee in return, and a recompense be made thee.

13 But when thou makest a feast, call poor, crippled, lame, blind:

14 and thou shalt be blessed; for they have not [the means] to recompense thee; for it shall be recompensed thee in the resurrection of the just.

15 And one of those that were lying at table with [them], hearing these things, said to him, Blessed [is] he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

16 And he said to him, A certain man made a great supper and invited many.

17 And he sent his bondman at the hour of supper to say to those who were invited, Come, for already all things are ready.

18 And all began, without exception, to excuse themselves. The first said to him, I have bought land, and I must go out and see it; I pray thee hold me for excused.

19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee hold me for excused.

20 And another said, I have married a wife, and on this account I cannot come.

21 And the bondman came up and brought back word of these things to his lord. Then the master of the house, in anger, said to his bondman, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring here the poor and crippled and lame and blind.

22 And the bondman said, Sir, it is done as thou hast commanded, and there is still room.

23 And the lord said to the bondman, Go out into the ways and fences and compel to come in, that my house may be filled;

24 for I say to you, that not one of those men who were invited shall taste of my supper.

25 And great crowds went with him; and, turning round, he said to them,

26 If any man come to me, and shall not hate his own father and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yea, and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple;

27 and whoever does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

28 For which of you, desirous of building a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, if he have what [is needed] to complete it;

29 in order that, having laid the foundation of it, and not being able to finish it, all who see it do not begin to mock at him,

30 saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish?

31 Or what king, going on his way to engage in war with another king, does not, sitting down first, take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him coming against him with twenty thousand?

32 and if not, while he is yet far off, having sent an embassy, he asks for terms of peace.

33 Thus then every one of you who forsakes not all that is his own cannot be my disciple.

34 Salt [then] [is] good, but if the salt also has become savourless, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

35 It is proper neither for land nor for dung; it is cast out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.


Luke 14:1-35 World English Bible (WEB)

1 It happened, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him.

2 Behold, a certain man who had dropsy was in front of him.

3 Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"

4 But they were silent. He took him, and healed him, and let him go.

5 He answered them, "Which of you, if your son{TR reads "donkey" instead of "son"} or an ox fell into a well, wouldn't immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?"

6 They couldn't answer him regarding these things.

7 He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them,

8 "When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, don't sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him,

9 and he who invited both of you would come and tell you, 'Make room for this person.' Then you would begin, with shame, to take the lowest place.

10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.

11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

12 He also said to the one who had invited him, "When you make a dinner or a supper, don't call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps they might also return the favor, and pay you back.

13 But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind;

14 and you will be blessed, because they don't have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous."

15 When one of those who sat at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is he who will feast in the Kingdom of God!"

16 But he said to him, "A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people.

17 He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, 'Come, for everything is ready now.'

18 They all as one began to make excuses. "The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please have me excused.'

19 "Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go try them out. Please have me excused.'

20 "Another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I can't come.'

21 "That servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.'

22 "The servant said, 'Lord, it is done as you commanded, and there is still room.'

23 "The lord said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

24 For I tell you that none of those men who were invited will taste of my supper.'"

25 Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them,

26 "If anyone comes to me, and doesn't hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can't be my disciple.

27 Whoever doesn't bear his own cross, and come after me, can't be my disciple.

28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?

29 Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him,

30 saying, 'This man began to build, and wasn't able to finish.'

31 Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy, and asks for conditions of peace.

33 So therefore whoever of you who doesn't renounce all that he has, he can't be my disciple.

34 Salt is good, but if the salt becomes flat and tasteless, with what do you season it?

35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."


Luke 14:1-35 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And it came about that when he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees on the Sabbath, to have a meal, they were watching him.

2 And a certain man was there who had a disease.

3 And Jesus, answering, said to the scribes and Pharisees, Is it right to make people well on the Sabbath or not?

4 But they said nothing. And he made him well and sent him away.

5 And he said to them, Which of you, whose ox or ass has got into a water-hole, will not straight away get him out on the Sabbath?

6 And they had no answer to that question.

7 And he gave teaching in the form of a story to the guests who came to the feast, when he saw how they took the best seats; saying to them,

8 When you get a request to come to a feast, do not take the best seat, for a more important man than you may be coming,

9 And then the giver of the feast will come to you and say, Give your place to this man; and you, with shame, will have to take the lowest seat.

10 But when you come, go and take the lowest seat, so that when the giver of the feast comes, he may say to you, Friend, come up higher; and then you will have honour in the eyes of all the others who are there.

11 For every man who gives himself a high place will be put down, but he who takes a low place will be lifted up.

12 And he said to the master of the house, When you give a feast, do not send for your friends and your brothers and your family or your neighbours who have wealth, for they may give a feast for you, and so you will get a reward.

13 But when you give a feast, send for the poor and the blind and those who are broken in body:

14 And you will have a blessing, because they will not be able to give you any payment, and you will get your reward when the upright come back from the dead.

15 And, hearing these words, one of those who were at table with him said to him, Happy is the man who will be a guest in the kingdom of God.

16 And he said to them, A certain man gave a great feast, and sent word of it to a number of people.

17 And when the time had come, he sent his servants to say to them, Come, for all things are now ready.

18 And they all gave reasons why they were not able to come. The first said to him, I have got a new field, and it is necessary for me to go and see it: I am full of regret that I am unable to come.

19 And another said, I have got some cattle, and I am going to make a test of them: I am full of regret that I am unable to come.

20 And another said, I have been married, and so I am not able to come.

21 And the servant came back and gave his master an account of these things. Then the master of the house was angry and said to the servant, Go out quickly into the streets of the town and get the poor, the blind, and those who are broken in body.

22 And the servant said, Lord, your orders have been done, and still there is room.

23 And the lord said to the servant, Go out into the roads and the fields, and make them come in, so that my house may be full.

24 For I say to you that not one of those who were requested to come will have a taste of my feast.

25 Now a great number of people went with him.

26 And turning round, he said to them, If any man comes to me, and has not hate for his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and even for his life, he may not be my disciple.

27 Whoever does not take up his cross and come after me may not be my disciple.

28 For which of you, desiring to put up a tower, does not first give much thought to the price, if he will have enough to make it complete?

29 For fear that if he makes a start and is not able to go on with it to the end, all who see it will be laughing at him,

30 And saying, This man made a start at building and is not able to make it complete.

31 Or what king, going to war with another king, will not first take thought if he will be strong enough, with ten thousand men, to keep off him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

32 Or while the other is still a great distance away, he sends representatives requesting conditions of peace.

33 And so whoever is not ready to give up all he has may not be my disciple.

34 For salt is good, but if the taste goes from it, of what use is it?

35 It is no good for the land or for the place of waste; no one has a use for it. He who has ears, let him give ear.

Commentary on Luke 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 14

Lu 14:1-24. Healing of a Dropsical Man, and Manifold Teachings at a Sabbath Feast.

2. man before him—not one of the company, since this was apparently before the guests sat down, and probably the man came in hope of a cure, though not expressly soliciting it [De Wette].

3-6. (See on Mt 12:11, 12).

7-11. a parable—showing that His design was not so much to inculcate mere politeness or good manners, as underneath this to teach something deeper (Lu 14:11).

chief rooms—principal seats, in the middle part of the couch on which they reclined at meals, esteemed the most honorable.

8. wedding—and seating thyself at the wedding feast. Our Lord avoids the appearance of personality by this delicate allusion to a different kind of entertainment than this of his host [Bengel].

9. the lowest—not a lower merely [Bengel].

with shame—"To be lowest is only ignominious to him who affects the highest" [Bengel].

10. Friend—said to the modest guest only, not the proud one (Lu 14:9) [Bengel].

worship—honor. The whole of this is but a reproduction of Pr 25:6, 7. But it was reserved for the matchless Teacher to utter articulately, and apply to the regulation of the minutest features of social life, such great laws of the Kingdom of God, as that of Lu 14:11.

11. whosoever, &c.—couching them in a chaste simplicity and proverbial terseness of style which makes them "apples of gold in a setting of silver." (See on Lu 18:14).

12-14. call not thy friends—Jesus certainly did not mean us to dispense with the duties of ordinary fellowship, but, remitting these to their proper place, inculcates what is better [Bengel].

lest … a recompense be given thee—a fear the world is not afflicted with [Bengel]. The meaning, however, is that no exercise of principle is involved in it, as selfishness itself will suffice to prompt to it (Mt 5:46, 47).

13. call the poor—"Such God Himself calls" (Lu 14:21) [Bengel].

14. blessed—acting from disinterested, god-like compassion for the wretched.

15-24. when one … heard … he said, Blessed, &c.—As our Lord's words seemed to hold forth the future "recompense" under the idea of a great Feast, the thought passes through this man's mind, how blessed they would be who should be honored to sit down to it. Our Lord's reply is in substance this: "The great Feast is prepared already; the invitations are issued, but declined; the feast, notwithstanding, shall not want abundance of guests; but not one of its present contemners—who shall yet come to sue for admission—shall be allowed to taste of it." This shows what was lacking in the seemingly pious exclamation of this man. It was Balaam's, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his" (Nu 23:10), without any anxiety about living his life; fondly wishing that all were right with him at last, while all heedless of the precious present.

16. a great supper—(Compare Isa 25:6).

bade many—historically, the Jews (see on Mt 22:3); generally, those within the pale of professed discipleship.

17. supper-time … all now ready—pointing undoubtedly to the now ripening preparations for the great Gospel call. (See on Mt 22:4.)

18. all began to make excuse—(Compare Mt 22:5). Three excuses, given as specimens of the rest, answer to "the care of this world" (Lu 14:18), "the deceitfulness of riches" (Lu 14:19), and "the pleasures of this life" (Lu 14:20), which "choke the word" (Mt 13:22 and Lu 8:14). Each differs from the other, and each has its own plausibility, but all come to the same result: "We have other things to attend to, more pressing just now." Nobody is represented as saying, I will not come; nay, all the answers imply that but for certain things they would come, and when these are out of the way they will come. So it certainly is in the case intended, for the last words clearly imply that the refusers will one day become petitioners.

21. came, and showed, &c.—saying as in Isa 53:1. "It is the part of ministers to report to the Lord in their prayers the compliance or refusal of their hearers" [Bengel].

angry—in one sense a gracious word, showing how sincere he was in issuing his invitations (Eze 33:11). But it is the slight put upon him, the sense of which is intended to be marked by this word.

streets and lanes—historically, those within the same pale of "the city" of God as the former class, but the despised and outcasts of the nation, the "publicans and sinners" [Trench]; generally, all similar classes, usually overlooked in the first provision for supplying the means of grace to a community, half heathen in the midst of revealed light, and in every sense miserable.

22. yet there is room—implying that these classes had embraced the invitation (Mt 21:32; Mr 12:37, last clause; Joh 7:48, 49); and beautifully expressing the longing that should fill the hearts of ministers to see their Master's table filled.

23. highways and hedges—outside the city altogether; historically, the heathen, sunk in the lowest depths of spiritual wretchedness, as being beyond the pale of all that is revealed and saving, "without Christ, strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world" (Eph 2:12); generally, all such still. Thus, this parable prophetically contemplates the extension of the kingdom of God to the whole world; and spiritually, directs the Gospel invitations to be carried to the lowest strata, and be brought in contact with the outermost circles, of human society.

compel them to come in—not as if they would make the "excuses" of the first class, but because it would be hard to get them over two difficulties: (1) "We are not fit company for such a feast." (2) "We have no proper dress, and are ill in order for such a presence." How fitly does this represent the difficulties and fears of the sincere! How is this met? "Take no excuse—make them come as they are—bring them along with you." What a directory for ministers of Christ!

that my house may be filled—"Grace no more than nature will endure a vacuum" [Bengel].

24. I say unto you, That none—Our Lord here appears to throw off the veil of the parable, and proclaim the Supper His own, intimating that when transferred and transformed into its final glorious form, and the refusers themselves would give all for another opportunity, He will not allow one of them to taste it. (Note. This parable must not be confounded with that of Pr 1:24-33; The Marriage Supper, Mt 22:2-14).

Lu 14:25-35. Address to Great Multitudes Travelling with Him.

25. great multitudes with him—on His final journey to Jerusalem. The "great multitudes" were doubtless people going to the passover, who moved along in clusters (Lu 2:44), and who on this occasion falling in with our Lord had formed themselves into one mass about Him.

26, 27. If any man, &c.—(See on Mt 10:34-36, and Mr 8:34, 35).

28-33. which of you, &c.—Common sense teaches men not to begin any costly work without first seeing that they have wherewithal to finish. And he who does otherwise exposes himself to general ridicule. Nor will any wise potentate enter on a war with any hostile power without first seeing to it that, despite formidable odds (two to one), he be able to stand his ground; and if he has no hope of this, he will feel that nothing remains for him but to make the best terms he can. Even so, says our Lord, "in the warfare you will each have to wage as My disciples, despise not your enemy's strength, for the odds are all against you; and you had better see to it that, despite every disadvantage, you still have wherewithal to hold out and win the day, or else not begin at all, and make the best you can in such awful circumstances." In this simple sense of the parable (Stier, Alford, &c., go wide of the mark here in making the enemy to be God, because of the "conditions of peace," Lu 14:32), two things are taught: (1) Better not begin (Re 3:15), than begin and not finish. (2) Though the contest for salvation be on our part an awfully unequal one, the human will, in the exercise of that "faith which overcometh the world" (1Jo 5:4), and nerved by power from above, which "out of weakness makes it strong" (Heb 11:34; 1Pe 1:5), becomes heroical and will come off "more than conqueror." But without absolute surrender of self the contest is hopeless (Lu 14:33).

34, 35. Salt, &c.—(See on Mt 5:13-16; and Mr 9:50).